‍Adele on Monday triumphed once again at the Grammys with five awards for her latest blockbuster album of ballads. But she used her moment in the sun to heap praise on Beyonce, whom she bested for top honors. 

The English balladeer - full name Adele Adkins - swept up the trio of major prizes at the music industry's biggest night. She took home Album, Record and Song of the Year along with two other pop awards at the 59th Annual Grammy Awards held in Los Angeles. 

Adele beat Beyonce in the top three categories with her comeback album "25." It was a repeat of her accomplishments in 2012, when the British star also won album, song and record of the year at the Grammys. 

"The way you make my friends feel, the way you make my black friends feel is empowering. I adore you. You move my soul everyday,” Adele said in her speech, honoring Beyonce and her ground-breaking "Lemonade" album, which also received several nominations.

Adele made a similar sweep in 2012 with her last album "21" - which remains the only album to have outsold "25" in the past decade. 

Speaking to reporters after the show, Adele said she had been worried "25" would flop: "I didn't really find my voice, and I don't know if I did find it even at the end." 

Adele, who has stood by her winning style of heart-wrenching songs of loss and regret, became the first act ever to sweep the three key categories in two different years.

And in a sentimental homage to late rock icon David Bowie, his final album "Blackstar" earned five awards, including four posthumous prizes for the singer. 

It was a happy ending to a night that included a major embarrassment as Adele - using an expletive that was cut from the television broadcast - insisted on restarting "Fastlove," her tribute to late pop icon George Michael. It was the second straight year of hiccups for Adele after a microphone fell on the piano during her Grammy performance a year ago. 

(With inputs from AFP)